Chuck for spindle-turning machines.



No. 787,133. PATBNTBD APR. 11, 1905.

, A. THCRSBY. i CHUCK PCN SPINDLE TURNING MACHINES. f-

APPLICATION FILED MAY 21, 1904 e SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 787,133. PATENTED APR. ll, 1905.

A. THORSBY.

CHUCK FOB. SPINDLE TURNING MACHINES.

APPLIUATION FILED MAY 2l, 1904. l

BSHEETS-SHEET 2.

No. 787,133. PATENTED APR. Il, 1905. A. THORSBY.

CHUCK IOR SPINDLE TURNING MACHINES.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 21, 1004. 6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

PATENTED APR. Il, 1905.

A. THORSBY. CHUCK FCR SPINDLE TURNING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 21, 1904.

PATENTED APR. ll, 1905.

A. THCRSBY.

CHUCK FOB. SPINDLE TURNING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 21, 1904.

PATBNTED APR. l1, 1905.

A. THORSBY.

CHUCK FOR SPINDLE TURNING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2l, 1904.

6 SHEETS-BHEET 6.

jive/Z597? 1 62.2365 f 50719@ #MAI UNTTED STATES Patented April Ii1,1905.

PATENT @wieso AXEL '1`H()RSBY, OF BELOIT, 'ISCONSIN, ASSlGNOR T() (l.MATTISON .\1i\(rfllli\'lil ll'Olxlb, OF BICLOIT, lVlSCO-NSIN, ACORPORA'IlON OF lVlSCONSlN.

CHUCK FOR SPINDLE-TURNING MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 787,133, dated Aprill1, 1905.

Application tiled May 21, 1904. Serial No. 209,124.

Be it known that l', Axnn'lfnonsnr, a citizen ot' the United States,residing in the cit-y otl Beloit, in the county otl Rock and State ot'lVisconsin. have invented a certain new, useful, and improved ChucktorSpindle-Turning Machines, ot which the following is a specitication.

ly invention relates to machines for turning spindles, columns, &c., andhas special ret'- erenee to the work-holders thereof.

)1y invention further and particularly relates to work-holders or chucksfor use upon the column and balnster turning machine that is shown anddescribed in the application ot' Christen Mattison. liled November t),1903, Serial No. 150,121

'1`he object ol: my invention is to improve the construction andarrangement ot' the revoluble chucks belonging to such machines and toprovide means whereby the work may be secured in or released lrom saidchucks more easily and quickly than with any ot' the constructions inuse at the present time.

Another and particular object otl the invention is to provide thework-carrier ol" a spindle or baluster turning machine with chucks thatshall be independently operable, but which shall also be simultaiwouslyand automatically operable to grasp or tree the work to the end thatsaid chucks may by their automatic action lend increased capacity to themachine.

A\ly invention consists generally in the combination ot' the workcarrier or trame ot' a turning lathe or machine with chucks which arerevolubly mounted on said carrier, means t'or rotating said chucks, andautomatic devices t'or securing and freeing' the work therein when saidchucks are rotated; and, turther, my invention consists in an automaticchuck ot the class described comprising two revolu ble mem bers. incombination with means tor positively rotating' one ot said members,means t'or retarding the rotation ot the other member` and work-grippingdevices actuated by the rotative movement o1' said members;

and, Yfurther and particularly, my invention consists in a workcarrierot' the class described having chuck-stocks, in combination withrcvoluble chucks in said stocks, cach thereot' comprising relativelyrevoluble members, rotating means upon said carrierconnectingcorresponding members otl said chuck, other means upon saidcarrier for retarding the rotation ot the second member of each chuckduring a portion ot' the rotary movement ot' the companion members,work-gripping devices in said chuck, and means whereby said grippingdevices are operated when the connected members of the chucks arerotated; and, further, my invention consists in various details ofconstruction and in combinations otl parts, all as hereinafterdescribed, and particularly pointed out in thc claims.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings, t'orming a part ol this specilication, and inwhich Figure 1 is a side elevation ot' a spindleturning machineembodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereot'. Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view ot'one ot' the chuckstocks ot' the machine containing a novel chuck andoperating mechanism embodying my invention. Fig. -1 is an enlargedtransverse vertical section through the upper part ot' the work-carriageon line t t" ot' Fig. 1, being an end view taken lrom Fie'. C. Fig. 5 isa sectional detail on the line 5x ox ot Fig, 4. Fig. (5 is a verticallongitudinal section o1 the chuck-stock and chuck on the line 5X 6' ot'Fig. 1, the retarding device being omitted. Fig. T is a detail view onthe line \V I ot' Fig. o viewed in the direction ot' the arrows T T.Fig. 5 is another view on the line 1V 1V otl Fig. (S viewed in thedirection ot the arrows 8 8. Fig. 9 is a horizontal section on the lines9 9 of Figs. (5 and t5. Figs. 10 and 11 are plan and end views similarto .Figs` 3 and 1 and showing' a modilied form of the retarding device.Fig. 12 is a plan view illustrating still another m i di1ication otl theretardingdevice. Fig. 13 is an end view thereof. Fig.

14 is an enlarged detail showing the manner of securing' the ends of theretarding-chuck or brake-band.

My invention is capable of employment in and upon various machines.Nevertheless it is particularly intended for and adapted to all kinds ofspindle baluster and column turning machines, and I have thereforeillustrated and shall describe my invention in connection with such amachine and as being part thereof.

The drawings show a spindle column or baluster turning machine of a typewhich is now well known. The principal parts of the machine are the highbase 2, the swinging carriage 3, having its lower end pivoted on thebase, the carriage-swinging mechanism comprising the link device shownand the operating-crank 4, the work-holding devices on the upper part ofsaid carriage, and the cutterhead arbor carrying the cutter-heads 6 andheld in bearings 2 on the top of the base 2. The stick of wood or workis usually square in cross-section and is first placed or fastened inthe work-holding chucks. Then the carriage is swung toward the base. andagainstl a suitable stop by means of the crank 4. In this manner thework is moved into the path of the rapidly-rotating cutters 6. Here, asin other machines of the class, the work is rotated by hand to exposethe complete circumference thereof to the action of the cutters. Therotation of the work is accomplished by a small hand-crank 7, whichmoves with the carriage and on being turned rotates the chucks that holdthe work. It has been customary heretofore to arrange the two chucks ofthe machine for rotation by a hand-crank like this one, and to thatextent their relative movement has been automatic; but in every othersense the chucks have always been hand-operated devices requiringseparate or individual manipulation-that is, to grasp or to release apiece of work it has been necessary to operate each chuck by hand thusnecessitating delay in the operation of the work-turning crank. Theprincipal object of my invention is to avoid this limitation upon thecapacity of the machine and to provide a work-holding mechanism whereinthe chuck-turning crank 7 shall practically perform all the operationsof tightening, turning, and loosening the chucks and work to the endthat at least one hand motion and much time shall be saved in theoperation of the machine. Another object of the invention, which shouldbe clearly understood, is to provide a mechanism of this characterwherein by the mere rotation of the hand-crank 7 the chucks shall becaused to automatically grasp and adjust themselves to the piece of workwhether the latter be of regular or irregular or tapered form.

Many accidents have resulted from carelessness on the part of theoperator in failing to tighten both chucks of his machine and moving animproperly-secured piece of work against the cutters. Opportunity forsuch carelessness should be obviated, and by making the chucks of mymachine entirely automatic I am able to do away with the chief source ofdanger in and about a spindle-turning machine. The manner in which Iattain these objects and results will be clearly understood upon furtherreference to the drawings. The work-carriage 3 has a plate-like upperpart and is provided or equipped with two chuck-stocks 8 8. These arebracketlike devices which occupy vertical planes and are adjustablysecured to the carriage by bolts 9, that pass through the longitudinalslots 3 thereof.

10 10 are the alining lugs of the stocks, resting on the finished upperedge of the carriage. The upper parts of the two stocks are joined by atie-rod 11, secured by set-screws 12. As explained later,the stocks areadjusted on the carriage according to the length of the spindles to beturned and may be so adjusted without affecting the connections betweenthe two chucks that are held in the stocks. These connections compriseashaft 13 for rotating the chucks and a shaft 14 for operating theretarding devices. Both shafts have bearings in the stocks 8 8 and, likethe tie-rod 11, are of sufcient length to allow the adjustment of thestocks to their outermost positions. The hand-crank 7 is attached to theshaft 13, and the retarding-shaft is provided with a handle or grip 15.On the shaft 13 and alongside each stock is a gear-pinion 16.- Thepinion is held in place against the stock by a screw and washer 17, andthe shaft 13 has a keyway 13 to receive internal keys of the pinions 16.In this manner the pinions are made adjustable longitudinally whilebeing adapted for rotation by the shaft. Each stock is provided withacircular opening or bearing for its chuck, which is a device that isadapted to be rotated by the pinion 16. The body of the chuck carriesmovable jaws for gripping the work, and the novel feature of the chuckcomprises the arrangement by which these movable jaws are moved in orout, not by a separate hand operation, but by the rotation of the bodyof the chuck.

A description of one chuck in detail will serve for both, it being'understood that the two chucks occupy right and left or reversepositions, the jaws thereof being presented on the inner sides of thechuck-stocks. The body 19 of the chuck has a large square hole 18 toreceive the end of the piece of wood that is to be turned. Said body 19is externally cylindrical to lit and rotate in the bearing or stock 8.yThe outer end of the chuck is enlarged to form the gear 20, whichmeshes with thc pinion 16 on shaft 13 for rotating the chuck. The innerend of the chuck-body 19 contains a deep peripheral groove andterminates in a wide flange 2l, which is made in "fsa-lee;

the form ot a detachable plate secured to the part 19 by screws or bolts2Q. In the peripheral groove ot the chuck l arrange anindepenileutly-revoluble ring23, which is placed upon the body 19 beforethe plate 21 is secured by the screws The plate Q1 is preferably acasting and is provided with transverse guides or housings Q1. Thesecontain the shanks ot' the clutch-jaws 25. The j-aws proper, '25, haveright-angled recesses to receive the work and are moved together orseparated to grasp or free the piece of work. l utilize the ring 23 Yforthus operating the chuck-jaws and as the simplest means of connectionprovide the end or face ot` the ring 23 with a spiral thread 24. Thejaws have threads 26, that engage the spiral thread on the ringl *23,and when the ring Q3 is rotated or when the ring 23 is held stationaryand the body ot' the chuck is rotated the jaws` which are carried bysaid body, will be moved in or out by the action ot the spiral threadthereon, according to the direction in which the clmckbody is turned. Anadvantage ot' the spiral thread is that the operating-screw thusprovided is ot' such slight pitch that no outward or expanding' pressureupon the chuck-jaws will cause the rotation ot' the ring or theloosening of the jaws. ln other words, the device is self-locking inevery position. It is obvious that other self-locking operatingconnections may be devised t'or use between the relatively movable ringQ3 and jaws 25, and ltor this reason it is not my intention to confinethis invention to the mechanism herein shown and described, though 1prefer sameabove all others.

lt is entirely Yfeasible to provide means for rotating the rings 23 otthe two chucks ot' the machine either while the chucks are stationary orduring their individual rotation; but as such an arrangement wouldnecessitate two hand movements l prefer to so construct my mechanismthat the relative movement ot' chuck and ring will be brought about bythe rotation ot' the body ot the chuck in either dirertion. '.1`oaccomplish this result, I provide means for stopping' or retarding therotation ot' the ring 23 when the body ot' the chuck is rotated orduring a portion ot' the rotation ot' said body. In short, the necessarymovement ot' the chuck-jaws may be obtained by simply holding thethreaded ring stationary until the jaws com plete their movement ineither direction. Ylhe pitch ot' the spiral thread is so gradual thatthe jaws when turned with the body ot' the chuck have but slighttendency to turn the ring. l'lence little torce is required for holdingthe ring against rotation at such time. A small clamp or friction leverQT serves to retard the ring. The lever or clamp 2T is pivotallyattached to the stock by a pin 28' in the lugor screw 2b. The upper endof the lever is provided with a beveled surface 27, and the lower orshort arm ot' the lever has a broad end r t'oot adapted to engage theside or shoulder otthe tlange 22% on ringl 29 represents anoperating-arm on shaft 1-1 and having a beveled or wedge face 29 toengage the corresponding tace of the clamp QT. Vhen the clamp isoperated by the arm 2%), the short arm ot the clamp forces the ring Q?)against the sideot' the clmck-stock and creates sutlicient friction toprevent the rotation ot' the ring with the body ot' the chuck. The arm29 is adjustably secured on shat't11 by set-key 30, which enters thekey-slot 14 after the manner o'tthe keys in the pinions 16. The weightot' the handle 15 on the shaft 11 is sutlicient to normally elevate thearms 2) thereon. 28) is a stop on arm 29 to engage a stop-pin 31 on thechuck-stock to hold the arm 22) in a position of readiness to bedepressed by the raising of handle 15. This is done whenever it isdesired to open or close the chuck-jaws and while the shaft 1l, is beingrotated. It is obvious that when the handle is slightly turned the rings23 of both chucks will be clasped against the stocks more or lesslirmly, according to the pressure ot' handle 15. .Now ifthe shat't listurned l, acl\'wardly the chuckbodies will be rotated andthe jaws olboth chucks will be opened by the action ol the spiral threads thereonagainst the stationary spiral threads ot' the ring. The chucks will thenbe in condition to receive a piece ol work. As soon as the work has beenplaced iu the loose chucks the crank 7 will be rotated in a positivedirection, and the rings 23 remaining stationary the jaws will be closedby the rotation ot' the shat't. 'hen the jaws seat upon the work and arethereby held against Ylnrther inward movement, they will themselvesclamp the spiral ring and tend to cause said ring to rotate with thechuck-body against the lriction ot' the clamps. One ot' the chuck-ringsmay take up its rotation in this manner before the other one does, andit' a tapered stick is placed in the chucks this action will occur, thesecond chuck continuing to rotate with relation to its ring until itsjaws are lirmly seated upon the smaller end ot' the stick. lhe reverseo1 this operation takes place when the chucks are reversely rotated toopen the jaws, all jaws being positively returned to their extreme outerpositions.

1t will be seen that l thus provide a chuck mechanism forspindle-turning machines in which the chucks are automatically operatedsimultaneously and are permitted either regular or irregular movement,according to the shape ot the piece ot work that is operated ou.

YIn working' the machine the operator grasps the handle 15 in one handand the crank T in the other, turning the latter at the same time. Assoon as the jaws grip the work and the spiral rings begin to rotate withthe chucks the operator releases the retardingdevice handle 15 andgrasping' the crank or lever 4f forces the carriage toward th'e rotatingcut- IOS IIO

ters. `Meantime he will continue the operation of the crank 7 torotatively feed the work to the cutters. rIlhe carriage returnsautomatically when the crank 4 is released, and immediately on loosing'or dropping the crank 4 the operator again grasps the handle 15 to clampthe chuck-rings and by rotating' the crank 7 backwardly causes theretraction of the chuck-jaws almost instantly after the work is retiredfrom the cutters.

Figs. 10 and 11 illustrate a modification of my invention wherein thefrictional retarding device belonging to the chuck is replaced by a morepositive retarding or locking device for the spiral ring 23. As hereshown, I may provide said ring 23 with gear-teeth 24 and equip the arm32 with teeth 33 to engage the ring 23. Each chuck is thus equipped, andit is obvious that by slightly rotating the shaft 14 the arms 32 may becaused to engage the chuck-rings and hold the same as long as necessary.Vhen the jaws lock upon or pick up the spiral ring, the resistance tothe rotation of the chuck will be felt upon the handle 15 and crank 7,and the operator will release 15, thereafter continuing the rotation ofthe chucks to turn the work before the rotating cutters. 35 is a stopfor the arm 32 and shaft 14. The' fact that various devices may beemployed for temporarily holding the chuckrings against rotation ineither direction is further exemplified in Figs. 12, 13, and 14. In thiscase a friction-band 36 takes the place of the ring-holding devicesabove described, same being arranged to tighten upon or around thechuck-ring 24 when the shaft 14 is turned in either direction. The endsof the band 36 are attached to the sleeve 37 of said shaft, theattachment being to lug 38 by bolt 39 at one end of the band and to lug40 by the adjustable block 41 at the other end of the band. The end ofthe band is attached to the block 41, and the block is made slidablyadjustable on lug 40 by means of the screw 42. This device enables me totake up the wear between the head and chuck-ring, as well as toinitially' adjust the band upon said ring. It is obvious that when thesleeve 37 is turned Y by means of handle 15 the band will be tightenedupon the ring and hold the latter until the chuck-jaws have been moved,after which the ring will turn within the band. The band when properlyadjusted will operate automatically, thereby dispensing with a momentaryhand operation. I prefer, however, to positively apply and release thering-retarding device in all cases, it being objectionable tocontinuously oppose any considerable friction or resistance to the easyrotation of the chucks by means of the crank 7.

It is obvious that numerous modifications of my invention will readilysugg'est them-v selves to one skilled in the art, and I therefore do notconfine the invention to the speciiic constructions herein shown anddescribed.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. In a machine of the class described, a carriage,in combination with chucks revolubly mounted thereon and havingradially-movable jaws, jaw-operating rings on said chucks, a spiralthread upon each of said rings, engaged with the respective jaws, andmeans movably arranged upon said carriage for frictionally opposing andcontrolling' the rotation of said rings simultaneously, substantially asdescribed.

2. In a machine of the class described, a carriage in combination withchucks revolubly mounted thereon and having radially-movable jaws, aspirally-threaded part for each chuck to operate the jaws thereof, saidspirallythreaded parts being normallycrevoluble with respective chucks,individual frictional retarding devices for retarding the rotation ofrespective threaded parts during the rotation of said chucks in eitherdirection, and means upon said carriage for simultaneously operating'said frictional retarding devices, substantially as described.

3. In a machine of the class described, a carriage, in combination withchuck-bodies revolubly mounted thereon and having radiallymovable jaws,a jaw-operating member mounted upon each said body` individualfrictional.

means upon said carriage for retarding the rotation of said members andother means upon said carriage for simultaneously operating suchindividual frictional means, substantially as described.

4. In a machine of the class described, a carriage, in combination withchuck-bodies revolubly mounted thereon and having open centers, meansfor simultaneously operating said bodies, jaws radially mounted in saidbodies, jaw operating rings or members journaled upon said bodies andsuitably connected to said jaws, friction devices provided on saidcarriage to engage respective rings, and means upon the carriage forsimultaneously applying said devices to said rings, to retard therotation thereof and operate said jaws during the operation of saidbodies in either direction, substantially as described.

5. In a machine of the class described, a carriage in combination withchuck-bodies revolubly mounted thereon, means for rotating saidchuck-bodies simultaneously, radiallymovable jaws upon said bodies,jaw-operating rings journaled on said bodies respectively, and meansupon said carriage for retarding the rotation of said rings during therotation of said bodies and thereby causing said rings to simultaneouslyoperate said jaws when said bodies are rotated, substantially asdescribed.

6. In a machine of the class described, a carriage, in combination withchucks revolubly mounted thereon and having movable jaws, a jawoperating ring mounted on each said chuck, ring-engaging clamps forfrictionally resisting the rotation of said rings, and means upon thecarriage for simultaneously operating said clamps, substantially asdescribed.

T. ln a tm'ning-machine of the class described, a base and a cutter, incombination with acarriage mounted for movement toward and trom saidcutter, chuck-stocks provided upon said carriage, chuck-bodies revolublein said stock, means upon the carriage for simultaneously rotating saidbodies in either direction, work-holding jaws for each chuckbody, ajaw-operating device revolubly arranged on each chuck-body and normallyrevoluble therewith, means upon each chuckstock for trietionallyengaging the respective jaw-operating device, and means t'orsimultaneously operating said Vt'i'ictional means, substantially asdescribed.

S. ln a turning-machine ot' the class described, a base and a cutter, incombination with a carriage mounted t'or movement to and from saidcutter, chuck bodies revolubly mounted upon said carriage, a set otlradiallymovable jaws for each said body, means for rotatingI said bodiessimultaneously, a jaw-operating ring provided upon each chuck-body andrevoluble therewith, and means for t'rictionally engaging andsimultaneously i'etarding the rotation ot' said ring's during therotation ot' said chuck bodies, whereby the chuck-jaws are moved in orout, according to the direction ot' rotation ot' said bodies,substantially as described.

t). ln a turning-machine ot' the class described, a base and a cutter,in combination with a carriage mounted t'or movement toward and tromsaid cutter, clnick-stocks mounted at the ends ot' said carriage andprovided with chuck-body bearings, chuck-bodies having central openingsand revoluble in said bearings, means movable with the carriage forsimultaneously rotating said chuck-bodies, radial guides upon saidchuck-bodies, jaws movable therein, jaw-operating rings mounted uponsaid bodies and engaged with said jaws, manually-operable devicesmounted upon and movable with said carriage and adapted to besimultaneously moved into engagement with said jaw-operating rings, saiddevices when thus engaged with said rings being' adapted to impede therotation thereotl in either direction at will, whereby both ends otl apiece otl work may be simultaneously chucked or released, substantiallyas described.

10. In a turning-machine, a base and a cutter, in combination with acarriage mounted t'oi' movement toward and from said cutter,chuck-stocks adjustably mounted upon said carriage and each providedwith a chuck-body bearing, chuck-bodies revoluble in said bearings, acrank-actuated shaft mounted in said stocks and geared to said bodiest'or the simultaneous rotation thereotl in either direction, radialguides provided upon said chuckbodies, jaws movable therein,jaw-operating rings provided upon said bodies respectively and spirallyengaged with the jaws thereot', a shaft mounted in said stocks and meansoperable by said shat't and adapted to engage and retard the rotationot' said rings, during the rotation ot' said bodies and whereby saidjaws are moved in or out according to the direction ot' rotation ol saidchuck-bodies, substantially as described.

il. VIn a tui'ning-machine ofthe class described, a carriage, incombination with chuckstocks mounted thereon and having bearings torchuck-bodies, chuck-bodies, having open centers and mounted in saidbeariiigs, means for simultaneously rotating said chuck-bodies in eitherdirection, spirallythreaded rings mounted upon said chuck-bodies, jawsalso mounted on said chuck-bodies and engaged with said ringsrespectively, devices tor t'rictionally opposing the rotation ot saidrings and means t'or simultaneously operating' said devices,substantially as and for the purpose specilied.

In testimony whereof l have hereunto set my hand, this 17th day ol' May,A. l). 190i, at Beloit, Visconsim in the presence ol two witnesses.

AXEL THORSBY. iVitnesses:

Jona C. Rooi), JosiIUA Fos'rn'n.

